Councillors and members of the public have reacted to Bicester Village’s successful planning application to build a huge new car park and extend its premises.

The owner of Bicester Village, Value Retail, had its proposal for a new car and cycle hub, park and extension to the shopping outlet, approved by Cherwell District Council’s planning committee last week amid grave concerns from the public.

Three councillors, Nick Cotter, Dan Sames and Chris Pruden, who all represent Bicester South and Ambrosden, the ward the development will take place in, gave passionate speeches at the meeting detailing why they thought the proposal should be rejected.

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Following the result, Mr Pruden said: “Myself, my liberal democrat colleagues and residents are disappointed that both conservative and labour councillors voted in favour to approve this car park.

“This is yet another example of Cherwell District Council ignoring residents and letting big business do as they please.

“This Conservative council simply could not say no to Value Retail for once when we really needed them to.

“Everyone I talk to has lost faith in the council, which is a shame.”

Echoing Mr Pruden’s disappointment, councillor David Hingley, also on the planning committee, said: “The strength of public feeling was plain and we were faced with a number of unanswered questions with important consequences for Bicester.

“The scale of the facility, the insufficient consideration for alternative options such as improving the park and ride, not to say the loss of a cherished green space with no certainty on the future of the displaced sports, all weighed against the application at this time.”

Callum Vinall, a member of the ‘Save Oxford Road Sports Ground’ campaign group, was angered by the decision: “This is an absurd decision made by the council’s planning committee.

“Bicester overwhelmingly did not want this land to be turned into a multi-storey car park.

“We have more than 3,500 signatures on a petition and over 100 letters of objection.

“Also, Sports England and Oxfordshire County Council objected, yet we will have to live with the decision made by a committee made up of councillors who are not from Bicester. Disgrace.”

Councillor Ian Corkin, who voted to approve the application, said: “Complicated planning applications like this are always a judgement call, and members of the planning committee have to weigh up all the evidence then use all their experience to get the best achievable outcome for the residents of Bicester and the villages that surround it. “Inevitably, one side is always disappointed, but I do think the approved application gives the best possible outcome for the widest possible group of residents.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1